EVIDENCE THAT THE SELECTIVELY BRED LONG-SLEEP AND SHORT-SLEEP MOUSE LINES DISPLAY COMMON NARCOTIC REACTIONS TO MANY DEPRESSANTS

The notion that the long-sleep and short-sleep selectively bred mouse lines display unique narcotic reactions to alcohols was challenged. The specific ethanol sensitivity hypothesis is not supported by the relevant literature. Much of the ambiguity with respect to this hypothesis concerns just pentobarbital. What effect pentobarbital had on these 2 mouse lines was explored. The effects of barbital and ethanol were examined. When these mouse lines can be differentiated by particular doses the long-sleep animals always displayed greater narcotic reactions. Only 1 sex was employed and testing was always initiated at the same time of day. Many of the equivocal findings that have been reported concerning pentobarbital are apparently due to combining data from both sexes, circadian rhythmicity and similar procedural variables.